Street-traffic signal



T. 0. MiLLER.

STREET TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

APPLICAUON FILED uov.2s. I917.

Patentefi Sept. 28,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

T. 0. MILLER.

STREET TRAFFIC SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 26, 1911.

Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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T. 0. MILLER.

STREET TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.26, I917.

1353,9953, PatntedSept. 28, 1920.

a SHEETSSHEET 3.

)jp I, I ///r////// F T/T77 flare/250x 1 THOMAS o. MILLER, or SANANTONIO, TEXAS.

STREET-TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented S t 28 1920 Application filedNovember 26, 1917. Serial No. 204,040.

To all whom it may ooncm a: 7

Be it known that I, THOMAS O. MILLER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and Stateof Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStreet-Traffic Signals, of which the following is a specification.

T he primary object of this invention is to provide an improved streettrailic signal that is operable from the center of the intersection ofstreets, or can be operated from the curbing of the street intersection.

Another object is to provide a street traffic signal with an improvedclutching arrangement which is related to the methods of operationrelative to whether the operator' desires to operate the signal devicefrom the center of the street intersection or from the curbing.

Other and further objects will appear in the specification and bespecifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings exemplifying the invention, and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of this improved street traiiic signal,parts being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of this improved device on a reduced scale,showing its location and manner of suspension relative to intersectingstreets.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line III-III ofFig. 1.

Fig. 1 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing that portion of thedevice containing the clutch which is essential to theoperation of thisimproved signal;

Fig. is an enlarged plan view taken on the line VV of Fig. 4. i

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modified form of suspended signalshowing its re lation to diagonally opposed corners.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of Fig. 6. v

Peferring to the drawings, this improved traific signal comprises avertically arrange supporting rod 1 which is turnably mounted at itsupper end to a strain plate 2, said strain plate being suspended by theguy wires 3 and 1-, said guy wires being secured to said plate and tothe posts 5 and 6 which are located on diagonally opposite curbings 7and 8, respectively. Secured to the upper end of the supporting rod 1 isa lever 9, the outer end of said lever having a swivel joint 10 securedthereto. Secured to said swivel joint 10 is one end of the cable 11,said cable being mounted over a pulley 12, said pulley being carried bythe clamping bracket 13 which is mounted adjacent the upper end of thepost 5, said cable having its opposite end 1 1 extend to a pointadjacent the curbing 7.

Mounted on the supporting rod 1 adjacent the under side of the strainplate 2 is a coil spring 15, said spring being secured at one end to abolt 16 which is carried by the strain plate 2, the opposite end of saidspring being secured at 17 to the rod 1.

Turnably mounted on said rod 1 is a sleeve 18, and carried by the lowerend of said sleeve is a housing 19, said rod 1 eX- tending into saidhousing, and having a shoulder 20 secured to the lower end thereof.

Mounted insaid housing and abutting the shoulder 20 is a spring 21, saidspring at its opposite end abutting the lower end of the sleeve 18.Formed on said sleeve 18 are a series of ears 22, said ears being forthe support of pairs of indicator arms 23 and 24, said pair of indicatorarms 23 bearing the direction sign to Go on each side, whereas the pairof arms 24 bear the direction sign to Stop on each side.

Depending from the lower end of the housing 19 are a pair of oppositelydisposed ears 25, and horizontally arranged in said ears is a pin 26,and removably mounted on said pin is a hook 27 of a lamp 28. Secured tothe under side of said lamp 28 is a loop 29, said loop being for thesecuring of the hook 30 of a turning pole 31.

Carried by the turning pole 31 is an umbrella 32, and secured to thelower end of said pole is a turning handle 33. Formed in the sleeve 18adjacent the upper end thereof is a slot 3 1, the length of said slotbeing approximately one-quarter of the circumference of said sleeve.

Formed in the lower wall of said slot are a pair of grooves 35, andcentrally arranged between said grooves is another groove 36. Secured tothe rod 1 is ahorizontally arranged pin 37 extending in said slot 34:,said pin'being normally engaged in one of the grooves 35 on account ofthe spring 21 bearing against the sleeve 18.

In the operation of this improved street tra-fiic signal, the pairs ofindicator arms 23 and 24: are adapted to be moved to alining positionsrelative to the intersecting streets so that the signal will indicate Goon one street and Stop on the other street.

If it is desired for the operator to opcrate the signal from the centerof the street intersection, the operator will engage the hook 30 of theturning pole 31 onthe loop 29, as itis to be noted that this improveddevice is suspended a distance above the trafiicfrom the strain plate 2.

VV hen the operator desires to shift the signal from a set position, apull is exerted on the turning pole 31, which will cause the sleeve'18to be moved downwardly against the pressure of the spring 21, therebydisengaging the groove 35 from the pin 3'7, and from the disclosure ofFlgs. 1 and 4 ot the drawings, the operator will then move the turningpole to the left until the wall 38 of the slot 34 will engage the pin 37then the operator on releasing the pole and the spring 21 will force thesleeve 18 upwardly until the other groove of the slot 34 engages saidpin 37. On account of the length of the slot 34, the sleeve 18 is onlypermitted to be moved one-quarter of a turn. Therefore the aforesaidoperation of said sleeve 18 and indicator arms 23 and 24 carried,

the directions as indicated by the indicator arms 23 and 24, aftermoving the sleeve 18 downwardly to release the sleeve from being heldagainst turning'by the pin 37, the

. turning pole 31 is turned to the right and in the oppositedirectionuntil the pin 37 is engaged by the wall 39 of the slot 34.

This improved device as afore related can also be-operated from the thecurbing, in

which the turning pole 31 is disengaged from engagement with the loop29, and the operator will take his place adjacent the post 5 on thecurbing 7, and upon pulling the cable 11, the lever 9 will be moveduntil it' abuts the upper end of the bolt 16, the movement of said levercausing the supporting rod 1 to be turned, and since the sleeve 18 isnormally locked to said rod 1 by engagement ofthe pin 37 of the rod 1 ineither one of the grooves 35; said sleeve and indicator arms 23 and 24carried thereby will be turned one-quarter of a revolution.

While the traflic is following the directions indicated by the arms 23and 24 the operator will bear on the cable, thereby holding theindicator arms in their moved positions, and when the operator releasesthe cable, the spring 15, which is secured to the rod 1 andstrainj'plate 2, will turn said rod and sleeve 18 in the oppositedirection to which they were just turned, and the movement ofone-quarter revolution rearwardly will be stopped when the lever9engages the bolt- 40 which is secured to the strain plate 2.

When the operator has to leave his post of duty, and the traflic willhave to take care of itseli' as regards regulations,'the sleeve 18 ispulled downwardly and turned approximately half way around on the rod 1until the centrally arranged groove 36 is in posi tion to engage the pin37, and when said pin 37 is enga ed in said groove 36, the indicatorarms 23 and 24 will be arranged in positions diagonally of the streetcorners, which will indicate to the trailic on both streets to becautious.

If it is desired to dispense with the lamp 28 which is adapted toindicate in accordance with the arms 23 and 24, the hook 27 of said lampis disengaged from the pin 26, said pin then being engaged by the hook30 of the turning pole 31.

The showing made in the drawings relative to the cable 11 and pulley 12being operably related to the lever 9, can if desired be replaced by asystem of turning bars and levers, in which the turning bar will belocated adjacent one of the curbing posts.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 6 and 7, the disclosure. thereinshown calls for more of a direct construction, in which the verticallyarranged depending rod 41, is turnably supportedat its upper end in thestrain plate 42, said strain plate being held in its suspended positionby the guy wires 43 and 44.

Secured to the upper end ofthe rod 41 above and bearing on said strainplate is a cross lever 45, comprising a pair of oppositely disposed arms46. The guy wires 43 and 44 are strung from diagonally opposed posts 47and 48, respectively, and supported by the guy wire 44 is a strain plate49, said strain plate being adjacent the post 48 and above the curbing50.

Turnably mounted in the strain plate 49 and depending therefrom is asignal actuating rod '51, and secured to the upper end of said rod abovesaid plate 49 is a cross lever 52 having oppositely disposed arms 53.Secured to each of said arms is a shifting cable or rod 54, the oppositeends of said rods being connectedto the respective arms 46 of the crosslever 45. V

Carried by the end of the rod 51 is a pin 55, said pin being for theengagement of a turning pole 56.v Carried by the lower end of the rod 41is a pin 57, said pin to be engaged by the turning pole 56. V

Secured to said rod-41isa plurality of indicator arms 58. In Fig. 6 theturning pole 56 is in a position of operating the sig .nal arms 58 fromthe curbing, in which.

when said turning pole 56 is turned, the signal rod 51 is operated,thereby exerting the pulling or pushing force of the cables or rods 54,and incidentally turning the cross lever 45, thereby operating thesignal supporting rod 41.

When it is desired to operate the signal from the center of the streetintersection, the turning pole 56 is mounted on the pin 57, said turningpole when operated applying direct motion to the rod 41 and signal arms58.

What I claim is:

1. A street trafiic signal comprising a turnably mounted verticallysuspended member, an indicator turnably mounted on said member, meansfor operating said member from therebeneath, and other means foroperating said member independently from said first mentioned means,located at a distance therefrom.

2. A street traflic signal to be operated from the street curbing orfrom the street center comprising a turnably mounted depending member,an overhead suspension for said member, a plurality of indicator armshorizontally arranged and turnably mounted on said member, detachabledepending means for turning said indicator arms on said member from thestreet, and other means for operating said arms from the street curbing.

3. A street traffic signal comprising a vertically arranged, turnablymounted member, an overhead suspension for said member, an indicatorturnably mounted on said member, means for locking said indicator tosaid member, and means for operating said member from therebeneath.

4. A street traffic signal comprising a vertically arranged suspendedmember, a sleeve turnably mounted on said member, indicators carried bysaid sleeve, a clutching mechanism cooperable with said member and saidsleeve, and means for operating said member and said sleeve arrangedbeneath said member.

5. A street traflic signal comprising a suspended strain plate, avertically arranged turnably mounted member turnably mounted membersupported by said plate, a sleeve turnably mounted on said member,indicator arms carried by said sleeve, a clutch mechanism provided bysaid member and said sleeve, means for operating said member and saidsleeve, and means depending from said sleeve for operating said sleeveindependently of said member.

6. An overhead street trafiic signal com prising a strain plate, avertically arranged supported by said plate, indicator arms carried bysaid member, a second strain plate, a vertically arranged turnablymounted member supported by said second mentioned plate, means forconnecting said turnably mounted members, and means for operating saidindicator arms from either of said members.

7. A street traffic signal comprising a turnably mounted verticallysuspended member, a sleeve turnably mounted on said member, indicatorscarried by said sleeve, a clutching mechanism cooperable with saidmember and said sleeve, providing means for operating said member andsaid sleeve together or independently of one another and depressingmeans for releasing said clutch and operating said member.

8. A street tratfic signal comprising a turnably mounted suspendedmember, an indicator carried by said member, engaging means providedadjacent the lower end of said member and a detachable elementvertically cooperable with said engaging means for turning said member.

9. A street traflic signal comprising a vertically arranged dependingmember, a sleeve slidably and turnably mounted on said member,indicators carried by said sleeve, a Spring actuated clutch mechanismformed between said member and said sleeve, and detachable downwardlypulling means for releasing said mechanism and operating said sleeveindependently of said member.

THOMAS O. MILLER.

